Kazakhstan could build new oil refinery in country's western region

ASTANA. Nov 25 (Interfax) - A fourth oil refinery in Kazakhstan, expected to be built after 2030, will most likely be located in the West Kazakhstan region, Kazakh Energy Minister Almassadam Satkaliyev said.

"The site [of the fourth oil refinery] will tentatively be in West Kazakhstan. The project is being considered and planned," Satkaliyev told journalists on the sidelines of the parliament in Astana.

The new refinery will be built after 2030, he said.

This will be a large petroleum complex with capacity of up to 10 million tonnes of oil products.

"The final decision on the construction of this refinery will depend on a number of factors, including transport electrification, energy consumption and our export capabilities," Satkaliyev said.

Satkaliyev said earlier on Monday that Kazakhstan must begin construction of new refinery by 2032 to address an anticipated shortage of petroleum products by 2036. According to the minister, it is crucial to begin planning a new refinery with an annual capacity of 10 million tonnes by 2030, and start construction by 2032.

At present, Kazakhstan operates three major refineries: the Atyrau Refinery, the Shymkent Refinery and the Pavlodar Petrochemical Plant.